Background: The North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools (NCAPCS) was awarded $52,995,683 in funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Expanding Opportunities Through Quality Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants to State Entities. This is a competitive grant program that enables State entities, including charter support organizations, to award subgrants to eligible applicants in their State to open and prepare for the operation of new charter schools and to replicate and expand high-quality charter schools.
This grant will fund NC Growing Results-Oriented Wins with Charter Schools (NC GROW Charter Schools) Program from 2025 - 2030, which will be led by NCAPCS. Through the NC Grow Charter Schools, NCAPCS plans to:
- Support the expansion of public charter schools, prioritizing innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE), STEM, or AI charter models.
- Deliver targeted technical assistance to help subgrantees strengthen their financial management.
- Provide comprehensive charter school board governance training in North Carolina.
Overview: The Career Development Specialist will report to the Project Director. This position will be responsible for the design and implementation of the CTE, STEM, and AI program goals of the NC GROW Charter Schools Program (CSP).
Essential Duties:
- Develop success metrics for CTE program evaluation
- Design guidance for forming partnerships with industry leaders that will enhance CTE programs
- Develop method of assessing current workforce readiness to determine the technical assistance that is needed to strengthen a charter school’s CTE program
- Create a curriculum for AI integration
- Develop guidance for developing STEM curriculum
- Design and implement a Statewide Access Plan focused on serving at-risk students, which will include:
- Annual needs assessment mapping to identify gaps in career-focused programming for at-risk students
- Quarterly distribution reports on CTE and STEM opportunity access
- Differentiated support for schools based on graduation rates and at-risk student populations
- Regional career exploration events targeting students at-risk of dropping out
- Industry partnership development to create mentorship opportunities for at-risk students
- Career pathways curriculum resources focused on in-demand sectors
- Technology grants for virtual career counseling platforms to reach disengaged students
- Work-based learning coordinator training for charter schools serving high at-risk populations
- Advisory Council of charter school leaders experienced in dropout prevention to guide implementation
Required Capabilities:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum of three years of professional experience
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Proficiency in instructional design, curriculum development, and the use of multimedia tools for training and presentations.
- Willingness to work flexible hours, including occasional weeknights and weekends
- Flexibility to travel for on-site technical assistance or training events.
- Experience motivating others to action
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including school leaders, educators, business leaders, and community members.
- Experience managing multiple, simultaneous work efforts and a strong ability to plan strategically and marshal resources toward implementation
- Ability to take initiative, exercise sound judgment in day-to-day decision-making, and have high levels of ownership for outcomes
- Understand and appreciate the use of outcomes-based data and information to drive performance
- Strong technology skills
Preferred Capabilities:
- Experience with CTE, STEM, or AI
- Comfort with multiple modes of effective communication, including social and online media tools
- Spanish language proficiency
To apply please send a resume and a detailed letter of interest explaining your qualifications to hiring@ncpubliccharters.org with the subject line “Career Development Specialist Application.” No phone calls please.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.